MA Auto Insurance

After years of steady rate reduction, 5 years ago Massachusetts introduced “managed competition.”

As a result, more companies entered the marketplace and the average insurance rate went down even more. Insurance programs long enjoyed by the rest of the country, such as accident forgiveness & disappearing deductible, began to appear.

Then, according to a Boston Globe article (Todd Wallack 5/15/2012) major insurers increased auto insurance rates by a median of 4.5 percent in 2011, and by 4.3 percent in 2012.

In 2013 rates have gone up even more with major increase announcements.

Since 2008 Massachusetts consumers with poor driving records &/or cancelled auto insurance have found huge premiums and restrictive, pay-in-full requirements.

In 2009 Massachusetts had the best uninsured motorist percentage (4%) in the Nation.

We have requested, but not yet received, present uninsured motorist statistics from the Massachusetts Division of Auto Insurance.

We guess the percentage of illegal, uninsured motorists has gone up.

So what happened?

Has competition been a bad thing?

From a professional, pro-active, independent insurance agent perspective: no, not all is lost.

With our help  we can actively shop your insurance, well in advance of your renewal, and take advantage of different companies discount, new business and insurance programs.

Many companies give new home buyer, advanced shopper, or new quote, or e-customer discounts which whither or disappear upon renewal.

In addition, with all the rate changes going on, different companies have different appetites for different types of business.

If you annually utilize the services of an active, pro-active, independent insurance agent, you should be able to save money and maximize your protection.

Don’t Forget Your Canada Card

Do you have a Massachusetts auto policy? Are you planning a trip to Canada?

If so, you may be asked for “proof of auto liability coverage” at the border.

Give your Massachusetts insurance agent a call, and they will be pleased to e-mail or mail you a Canada Non-Resident Liability Insurance Card.

The cost is free and it might save you some time and heartache. 

Call or click us for more information.

MA Independent Auto Insurance Agent Advantage

www.Massautoquote.com utilizes the shopping power of your local, independent insurance agent.

Your MA Independent Insurance Agent:

  • Licensed professional with strong customer and community ties.
  • Gives you excellent service and competitive prices because your agent can access the insurance coverage from more than one company.
  • Unlike other agents, your Independent Insurance agent is not beholden to any one company; thus, you don’t need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
  • Assists you when you have a claim.
  • Is your consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
  • Offers you a choice of Massachusetts insurance plans and programs.
  • Is a value hunter who looks after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage and service.
  • Offers one-stop shopping for a full range of products – Massachusetts home insurance, renters, Massachusetts car insurance, business, life and health.
  • Can periodically help you review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
  • Treats you like a person, not just another number.
  • Works for you as advocate at claim time, or if you have a billing question.
  • Will assist you with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and offer home, business & life insurance through numerous companies.
  • Customer satisfaction is the key to a Massachusetts independent agent’s livelihood. So, serving you is the #1 concern.

3 second driving rule …

 

Use the “three-second rule” to help prevent rear-end accidents!

The “three-second rule” accounts for your reaction time to the movements of the vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s stopping distance.

You should add more time if the road is slippery, if you’re being crowded by a tailgater, if you’re towing a trailer or if you’re driving a large truck.

The three-second rule:

When the vehicle ahead of you passes a stationary object, start counting:  1,001 … 1,002 …

The first second is your reaction time; the next two seconds account for your braking distance

You should not reach the object before you count to … 1,003. If you do, you are following too closely.

At a vehicle speed of 55 mph, the three-second rule creates a gap of 243 feet between cars.

Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report

As a consumer service, we offer the following link to the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report:

Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report

When Does Massachusetts Require You File a Report?

  • You should file a report if you’re the operator of a vehicle involved in a crash where the damage to any one vehicle or property is over $1,000, or if there is an injury to any person, even if a police officer was on the scene. You should file the report within 5 days of the date of the crash.

When Should you NOT File a Report?

  • You should not file a report if the crash occurred on a private road, driveway, private parking lot or other private way.

Why this Report is Important

Data from this report is used for many purposes including:

  • Identifying locations with a large number of crashes.
  • Improving dangerous highways and intersections.
  • Developing highway safety public information programs.
  • Developing programs to save lives and reduce highway injuries.

Where to send completed reports:

  • Mail or deliver one copy to your local police department in the city or town where the crash occurred.
  • Mail one copy to your Insurance Company.
  • Mail one copy to the RMV at: Crash Records RMV; PO Box 55889; Boston, MA 02205-5889

Link to MA RMV Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report:  http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21278.pdf

Massachusetts High Theft Vehicle List

The list includes such nice, “practical” vehicles such as the 2012 Subaru Impreza STI station wagon and 2012 Tundra Double Cab SR5.

From a “cost to insure” perspective, you might be surprised to learn they are on the Massachusetts Divsion of Insurance High Theft Vehicle List!

Before you buy your next vehicle, call your independent insurance agent to have him price the cost of insurance for the different vehicles you are considering buying.

Your insurance budget might be glad you did.

Click for:  Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance High Theft Vehicle List

Insurance Discounts

As a Massachusetts auto insurance consumer, it’s important to understand what you pay all that money for, year after year.

It’s important to understand your coverage.

With the assistance of your MA insurance agent, an annual insurance review, explanation of coverage, and discount double-check, should not take more than a few minutes.

Each year at renewal time, visit, phone, or exchange e-mails with your MA insurance agent.

Become an engaged insurance consumer.

Some questions:

  • Do we carry adequate liability limits?
  • Do we carry Umbrella coverage?
  • Do we carry physical damage coverage (Collision & Comprehensive) on our vehicle?
  • What is the value of our vehicle?
  • Are we getting all the discounts that are available?

Insurance is asset protection.

Auto insurance protects the value of your car & provides you liability protection.

Liability protection is protection from lawsuits or injury up to your policy’s coverage limits.

Do you know your policy’s limits?

Call or click us for your free Massachusetts auto insurance quote. We shop for the best premium & discount programs with the best companies.

Please call, click, fax or stop by with your auto insurance Coverage Page.

Advanced Driver Training

The number one killer of teens is automobile accidents.

Massautoquote.com promotes safe driving and recommends In Control Advanced Driver Training.

Many companies offer an Advanced Driver Training discount, one company in particular (Safety Insurance) supplements the cost of the class. Instead of paying the standard rate of $299, Safety Insurance clients pay only $75.

In addition, clients receive a 5% discount on their auto insurance (Safe Roads Alliance).

In Control is a non-profit organization filed as a 501(c)(3) and offers the nation’s first state certified crash prevention training to drivers of all ages. This closed course, hands-on education was adapted from existing law enforcement training in the United States as well as European instruction that led to a societal shift in attitudes toward driving in many countries.  

In Control has trained nearly 25,000 students and receives endless praise from graduates, parents, schools, police departments, insurance companies, legislators and community groups all over New England.   Most graduates enjoy insurance discounts and the peace of mind knowing that they have been trained for emergency situations.  Third party research has found a 70% reduction in crashes for new driver graduates of our training and similar results for experienced drivers trained through our commercial programs.

While focused on training New England drivers of all ages, In Control has traveled the United States providing training, consulting and products to keep people safe from the most dangerous thing we do.

Call, click, or stop by to find out more about Advanced Driver Training and other Massachusetts auto insurance discount programs.

Reminder: Shop Your Massachusetts Auto Insurance

 

Shop your Massachusetts auto insurance reminder: call or click us today!

As independent, Massachusetts insurance agents, we see it every day: Auto insurance renewal rates are going up.

Massachusetts insurers offer premium enticing ways to capture new business, including:  advanced shopper, advance issue and declining e-customer credits.

When our agency sees a client’s renewal rate go up, we re-rate with all of our companies.

As a result, we spend quite a bit of time rating, re-rating, and re-writing policies in order to take advantage of MA auto insurance discount programs.

Geico suggests: “15 minutes could save you 15% …” we might be able to save you more than that.

Call or click us for your free, no obligation, competitive, comparative, Massachusetts auto insurance quote!

MA Auto Insurance Policy: Parts 3 & 12 –

Often overlooked on the MA auto policy are Parts 3 & 12, Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

These limits are important. So important, we recommend coverage be equal to your Part 5 coverage which should be, at least, $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per accident. 

Uninsured & Underinsured coverage protects you and occupants from other drivers. It can pay for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Coverage also extends to you if you’re in someone else’s vehicle or if you’re struck by another vehicle as a pedestrian.

A recent report from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) shows that there is a remarkable correlation between being unemployed and being uninsured.

Don’t overlook your Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage limits.